Science and technology policy

Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES OF THE CSTP

The strategic objectives of the Committee as defined in its Mandate and by the work priorities agreed by the Member countries' Ministers responsible for science and technology provide the framework for the Secretariat's proposals for activities to be developed or initiated under the aegis of the Committee itself or its subsidiary bodies (NESTI, TIP, GSF and WPB).

The National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators (NESTI) ensures the improvement of the methodology for the collection of internationally comparable data for measuring the input, output, diffusion and impact of science and technology; ensures the continued timely availability and analysis of such data and the further development of data collection and dissemination systems for other S&T and knowledge indicators; assists in developing and interpreting new and existing S&T indicators in the light of policy changes or other special characteristics of their countries.

The Working Group on Technology and Innovation Policy ( TIP ) conducts analytical research on the links between innovation and growth, including productivity and job creation, and evaluates national S&T support systems in order to facilitate benchmarking and the identification of best practice policies.

The Global Science Forum (GSF) seeks to identify and maximise opportunities for international co-operation in basic scientific research.

And the Working Party on Biotechnology (WPB) initiates projects requiring international co-operation to help governments and societies respond to policy challenges related to biotechnology.

The CSTP objectives can be summarised as follows:

Better inform the policy debate on the contributions of science, technology and innovation to the advancement of knowledge, sustainable economic growth, social well being and employment creation with a view to facilitate the identification of best policy practices. In meeting this objective, particular attention has to be given to the evolving roles of, and relationships among, public and private institutions.

Promote the improvement of the management of S&T policies, notably as regards the maintenance of a strong and creative research base including the development of human resources.

Foster international co-operation in S&T policy as well as in the development of scientific and technological infrastructures so as to increase the capacity of national economies to access and exploit the results of global S&T activities and reap the benefits from globalisation. In this area, particular importance is given to international co-operation as a means to ensure the harmonisation of regulatory frameworks that accommodate the interests of diverse stakeholders both in the pursuit of scientific knowledge and in the application of new technologies in the areas of life sciences and information and communication.

In the pursuit of the above objectives, the Committee and its subsidiary bodies should be able to rely on an enhanced capacity to track, measure and understand changes in national S&T and innovation capabilities as well as in the impact that increased globalisation can have on these capacities. The leading role of the OECD in the development, compilation and analytical use of internationally-comparable S&T statistics and indicators needed to better inform the policy debate called for by the pervasive importance of knowledge in economy and society, remains a most valuable asset of the Committee.

Reflecting the relevance of work in the S&T area to the broader OECD agenda, these activities also contribute to some of the horizontal projects involving several Directorates that have been mandated by the OECD Council meeting at Ministerial level.